Multiple circuit controller having a universally movable single operator



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MULTIPLE CIRCUIT CONTROLLER HAVING A UNIVERSALLY- MOVABLE SINGLE OPERATOR Filed Sept. 8, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1952 MULTIPLE CIR-QUIT CONTROLLER HAVING A UNIVERSALLY MOVABLE SINGLE OPER- ATOR Isaac Harter, In, Beaver, Pa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Jersey City, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 8, 1948, Serial No. 48,266

(Cl. flit-18) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to controllers for manipulating apparatus and, more particularly, to a controller with a single operating member having a control movement corresponding to the desired movement of a controlled manipulator.

The invention controller is particularly applicable to manipulators of the travelling crane type. These manipulators may have up and down movements, and also lateral movements. Such movements have heretofore been controlled by separate controllers. Additionally, another control means is provided for operating the clamps, bucket, tongs, or the like for picking up and releasing the articles to be manipulated.

The invention controller is particularly designed for use where the vertical and lateral movements of a manipulator are effected by air or hydraulically operated means under the control of solenoid operated valves. These valves are selectively energized by switches controlled by the present controller. In a typical example, the controller may comprise a universally movable joy stick movable in any lateral direction to operate one or more of the switches controlling the solenoid valves.

For example, the joy stick may be pushed forward or backward to operate the down and up switches, or laterally to operate the left and right switches. Alternatively, the joy stick can be moved forward and to the left simultaneously, thus operating both the down and the left switches at the same time. The manipulator correspondingly moves down and swings to the left. Any other combination of movements is also possible.

A feature of the invention is a further control incorporated in the joy stick and which may be used to operate a switch controlling release of normally closed tongs or other article gripping means associated with a manipulator.

The controller is equally useful with electric motor operated manipulators, in which case the switches operated by the directional movement of the joy stick control the energization and direction of operation of positioning motors.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a novel controller for manipulators, having a control movement corresponding to the desired manipulating movement.

Another object is to provide a controller arranged to simultaneously control one or more of a plurality of electric circuits.

A still further object is to provide a rugged,

simple and inexpensive controller for a plurality of electric circuits.

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical through the controller;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the controller, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the controller as applied to control the solenoid valves of an air or hydraulically operated manipulator; and

Fig. i is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating the controller as applied to the control of a pair of reversible electric motors and an air motor.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, controller iii is illustrated as including a casing or housing 60 having side walls 6i and centrally apertured top and bottom walls 62, 63. While shown as rectangular or cubical, casing or housing 60 may be made in any desired shape in accordance with the desired control movements.

In the particular arrangement chosen to illustrate the invention principles, controller [0 includes five switches 65, 66, 6?, 68 and 69. Switch 65 is centrally aligned with an aperture H in bottom wall it, and is supported in a bracket or casing l2. Its operating button projects into aperture H.

The other four switches 66-59 are mounted on the side walls 6| so that their operating buttons 65-69' project toward the center of housing (it. These operating buttons are of the enlarged head type providing for easy and simple operating by striking with the palm of the hand.

In alignment with aperture H, a universal bearing socket is mounted on wall 63 within housing and includes spaced upper and lower plates 13, I4 interfitting with an annular side wall it. The assembly is held together by bolts Ti secured to wall 83 and surrounded by spacers 78 supporting the bearing socket above wall 63. A pressure lubrication tube '19 may extend through a side wall 6! and annular wall i6 into the bearing socket.

The operating handle Ii! of controller [El includes an elongated, generally tubular base member 8| having a spherical enlargement 82 at its lower end, and this enlargement has bearing engagement in central apertures 83, iii in plates 13, M. The edges of apertures 83, 84 are holsectional view 3 lowed to provide substantially spherical surfaces engaging enlargement 82, and member BI is engaged between plates 13, 14 before the latter are assembled with wall '56 to form the bearing socket.

Near'its upper end, member 8| has a shoulder 86 against which is set the inner race 81 of a ball bearing assembly 88. The outer race 69 engages the switch operators 66-69'. Race 81 is clamped against shoulderflfi by'a tubular,

sleeve 9| threaded onto the upper end 'of'member BI and extending through a central aperture 92 in a cover plate 93 resting on top. plate 62. Cover plate 93 is not attached to top plate-62 but slides freely thereover as operating'handle'lfl is moved laterally.

An apertured cap 94 is threaded on the outer end of sleeve 9| and serves as an outer guide for a rod 95 extending through sleeve 9! and. member 8| into engagement with the operator 65 of switch 65. Through the mediumof its ball and socket mounting and roller bearing assembly 88, operating handle 10 is universally swingable to depress the operator of any one. or more of switches 66-459. Switch 65 is operated by pressbeing normally closed until switch 65 is-operated.

The operator must therefore consciously depress rod 95 to open the tongs. With such arrange-- ment, a deadman safety control of the tongs is effected.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate typical control circuits for controller ID. The switches 65-69 and-the elements of controller 10 have beendesignated by the same reference characters as'in Figs. 1 'and 2.

In the circuit of Fig.3, one terminal of a source of control potential -96.is connected in parallel to each switch 65-69. The other source terminal -is connected in parallel to one terminal of each of five control relays C65--C69, each having its -other terminal connected to-the correspondingly numbered switch. A solenoid operated valve 45' or 55' respectively controls the operation of the means effecting lateralmovement, vertical movement, and release of the tongs or the like. 'I he arrows pointing toward each valve indicate connections to a source of fluid pressure, a-nd the arrows pointing away from each valve indicate exhaust connections.

Valves 35' and-45 are four-way valves-arranged to apply fluid pressure to either end of cylinders or other means controlling lateral and vertical movement respectively. The arrange- -ment is such thatthe cylinders remain in an operated position until a further control movement is effected. Thus, each of these valves are indicated as having two fluid pressurelines connectcd to the respective cylinders.

' On the other hand, valve 55' is a three-way valve arranged to connect one end of a cylinder or the like, operating either to a purrp or to exhaust. A spring 9? is indicated as biasing valve 55" toward-the exhaust positionconnecting its single cylinder line to the exhaust line.

"Valves 35 and-wflare operated by pairs of .ie article gripping means,

those skilled in the art. i indicated at I 00 as comprising an armaturerl'l] I solenoids indicated at 35L, 35R, U and 45D. respectively for left, righ up and down operation. A solenoid A is indicated as opposing the action of spring 91. Each solenoid is connectable'across a SOUICB'vOf power 98 by the front contact and armature of its associated relay, with relay C being normally energized "through normally closed switch 65 to energize solenoid 55A. Thus, the tongs remain closed until rod-= "is consciously depressed to open switch' 65.

To pick up" an' article in advance of the manipulator tongs 'ora. grip, rod 95 is depressed and handle 10 pushed forwardly. Rod 95 opens switch 65,'dropping relay C65 to deenergize solenoid 55A.

Spring 91 turns 'valve 55' clockwise, connecting cylinder 55 to exhaust, and the tongs open. Rod

95 closes switch 61 through bearing assembly 88" and switch operator 61. This picks up relay C6! to energize solenoid 451) to operate valve 45' to apply pressurexto the vertical movement operatingmeans to lower the article,;gripping means.

To-align the tongs'over'an article, handle may be moved'either left orrigh-t'to close'either switch 65 or switch 68. When the tongs engage the article, rod 95 is released toQpermitssWitch E5 to close. This picks up relay-C55 to :energize solen0id 55A and-move valve'-55rcounterclockwise to'connect the tongs operating cylinder; to pressure and thus-clamp the tongs-aboutrthe article. The article remains clamped inthe-tongs until-rod 95 isagain depressed.

Handle 10 is then pulled back to :close switch 59 toraisethe article. Rod'95 is againvdepressed to open the tongs to release thearticle.

' ment.

Fig. 4 illustrates controller lfl asappliedvto .controla pair of crane motors 'for :up down and left-right movement of r the cranehookcor tongs.

. Inso far as the connections of:the controllento relays C65C69, and the circuits of solenoidefi5A of valve I 55" are concerned, these are itheoisame as in Fig. 3. Relays G66--.C69 have-both anzupper and a lower armature; and are-connected". td'act asreversing' switches. in a manner wellkn'ownato The left-right imotorx-is and a field I02. Similarly the up"-zdown:or hoist motor is indicated-at as having'an armature Hi and a field H2. Onetermin'al of eachmotor armature is constantly connected to one side r'of source I63, and the 'other' source --terminal is connected tothe upperarmatures ofthec-relays.

The other terminal ofeach motorrarmature is connected tothe lower armature of ieach'tof its associated relays. l One terminal; ofr each field winding is connected toan upper front contact of. one relay and a lower-front contact 'of the other relay. The other field terminal ris con nected tothe front contacts in r'eversel order.

Consequently, when relay C66, forgexample,v is picked up, the connection -of motor 106 are such that the crane moves-to-thevleft. Picking-sup relay C68, reverses' the connections of fielddM to reverse'motor I00. A similar operation itakes place with hoist motor I I0 when relays C691and 067 are. selectively, picked up. pEachrelay. is energized in response to a corresponcling sup.-

down, left-right or combined 'upndowneleft rlght movementofhandle 10.

The described controller is a simple and efiective means for effecting complex movements of a manipulator. The handle 10 is moved in a direction corresponding to the desired movement in much the same way as is the control or joy stick of an airplane. Rod 95 cooperating with switch 65 provides an effective dead man control of the article gripping means.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What I claim is:

1. A circuit controller comprising, in combination, a base; a frame secured to said base; a universal bearing socket mounted substantially centrally on said base; an elongated base member having a spherical enlargement at one end engaged in said socket; an anti-friction bearing assembly embracing said member and having an inner race secured on said base member; a plurality of switches mounted on said frame in substantially the plane of said assembly, switches having operators extending inwardly toward and continuously engaging the outer race of said assembly; and a handle secured to the other end of said member for universal movement of said base member to selectively actuate said switches through movement of said assembly.

2. A circuit controller comprising, in combination, a base; an enclosure secured to said base; a centrally apertured cover secured to said enclosure; a universal bearing socket mounted substantially centrally on said base; an elongated base member having a spherical enlargement at one end engaged in said socket, and a shoulder intermediate its ends; an antifriction bearing assembly embracing said member and having an inner race engaging said shoulder; a plurality of switches mounted on the inner surface of said enclosure in substantially the plane of said assembly, said switches having operators extending inwardly toward and continuously engaging the outer race of said assembly; and a handle secured to the other end of said member and extending through the cover aperture for universal movesaid ment of said base member to selectively actuate said switches through movement of said assembly.

3. A circuit controller comprising, in combination, a centrally apertured base; an enclosure secured to said base; a centrally apertured cover secured to said enclosure; a universal bearing socket mounted substantially centrally on said base; a substantially tubular base member having a spherical enlargement at one end engaged in said socket, and a shoulder intermediate its ends; an anti-friction bearing assembly embracing said member and having an inner race engaging said shoulder; a plurality of switches mounted on the inner surface of said enclosure in substantially the plane of said assembly, said switches having operators extending inwardly toward and continuously engaging the outer race of said assembly; a tubular handle secured to the other end of said member in alignment therewith and extending through the cover aperture for universal movement of said base member to selectively actuate said switches through movement of said assembly; a switch secured to the underside of said base and having an operator extending into the base aperture in substantial alignment with said base member; and a rod telescoped through said base member and handle, extending beyond the latter, with its inner end engaged with such last named operator; whereby the last named switch may be selectively operated by depressing the projecting end of said rod.

ISAAC HAR'I'ER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 112,829 Middleton May 21, 1871 612,413 Guernsey Oct. 18, 1898 1,709,068 Forseille Apr. 16, 1929 1,729,891 Moore Oct. 1, 1929 2,391,881 Clay Jan. 1, 1946 2,397,978 Paulus Apr. 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number v Country Date 638,312 France Feb. 20, 1928 

